Modern Warfare 2 subscription message “just a glitch”

A video circulating the internet resparked rumors that Activision might implement a pay-to-play plan for Call of Duty multiplayer. Uploaded on YouTube, the video shows an Xbox Live message titled “Modern Warfare 2 Membersh[ip].” However, Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling quickly squelched the rumor, tweeting that “nobody has to pay to play COD or MW2 multiplayer, nor will they.” He then reiterated with a blog post stating that there will never be additional fees to play MW2.

“This video shows just a glitch — since you can access a Live subscription renewal from within the MW2 game interface, it appears some data got jammed between two parts of Live. It’s not a secret portal to some nefarious plot to charge people for COD multiplayer — and there are no plans to do that.”

Treyarch’s Josh Olin confirmed that CoD: Black Ops will also not include a pay-to-play subscription plan.

With Activision, Treyarch and Infinity Ward firmly denying the rumor, I think it’s safe to say Modern Warfare 2 is sheltered from possible evil money grubbers (or, you know, developers rightfully banking on a great game). Seriously though, if one of these guys said, “It’s just a glitch. Please ignore it. Pleeeease,” then we’d have every right to worry. But the head honchos of three companies adamantly denying rumors and, even better, saying that we will never see subscription fees is great news. Thanks to the rumor, we can now feel safe and warm, knowing that our wallets can remain in our pockets… at least until the CoD game after Black Ops is released (cue: ominous music).